No US assistance on Syria reconstruction until Iran is out: top US diplomat
“We don’t listen to the council of defeatism,” senior State Department advisor Brian Hook said in response to the notion that dislodging Iranian forces from Syria could prove impossible.
Paris gas leak explosion leaves 4 dead, 36 wounded amid ‘yellow vest’ protests
A powerful explosion and fire apparently caused by a gas leak at a Paris bakery Saturday injured 36 people, including 12 in critical condition.
Job prospects are soaring in New York City, thanks to Amazon HQ2 and Google’s expansion plans
With unemployment in New York City at record lows, the battle for talent is raging as tech giants, including Amazon and Google, lay plans to open new or expanded operations in Manhattan and Long Island City.
Trump ‘hasn’t been fair’ to OPEC, Oman’s oil minister says
Oman’s oil minister thinks President Donald Trump has given OPEC some undue flak. But echoing other Gulf ministers, Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhi stressed his desire to steer clear of political animosity with the American leader.
Top US Navy officer to visit China amid heightened tensions
The U.S. Navy’s top officer will visit China beginning Sunday amid increasing frictions between the two countries’ militaries in the South China Sea.
US government shutdown becomes longest federal closure in country’s history
The shutdown became one for the record books once the clock struck midnight and the partial government closure entered its 22nd day.
Saudi woman fleeing alleged abuse heads to Canada for asylum
An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home left Thailand on Friday night for Canada, which has granted her asylum.
Trump defends firing ‘sleaze’ James Comey amid report FBI opened counterintelligence Russia probe
Federal investigators opened a probe into whether the president had been secretly working with Russia, The New York Times reported late Friday.
Canadian prime minister says China not respecting diplomatic immunity in arrest case
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Chinese officials are not respecting the diplomatic immunity of one of the Canadians detained in China last month as he ramped up efforts to get them released.
Nissan top executive resigns amid broadened investigation of ex-Chairman Ghosn
Jose Munoz, widely considered as a close ally to Ghosn and a possible successor to lead the automaking partnership between Nissan and France’s Renault, had been a “person of interest” in Nissan’s widening internal investigation.